The group's sound was marked by Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice which featured on virtually all of their hits. Scotty's sound was so distinctive and likeable that, in his heyday, he was as recognizable as such noted R&B lead singers as Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.[citation needed]
In 1987, they enjoyed a career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and it became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7. The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
In the 1990s, The Whispers joined the Capitol Records family releasing more favorites. Expanding their creative horizons, brothers Walter and Scotty cut “My Brothers Keeper”, a critically-acclaimed duet album in 1993, scoring another R&B hit with a cover of the Intruders' "I Wanna Know Your Name." The 1995 release “Toast to the Ladies” featured a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Baby face once again with their album, "Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface”. Both albums charted on Billboard's top 100 albums.
Marcus stopped performing with the group in 1989 due to ill health and the Whispers vowed never to replace him when he died in 2000. In the new millennium, the group still performs around the world to thousands of loyal fans. The group has not made any personnel changes and still consists of Walter Scott, Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, and Leaveil Degree. They have taken the world by storm, selling out in various casinos and hotels, music venues, and they have a tremendous following throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, they still find time for charity work with youth education, cancer organizations, 100 Black Men, and Domestic violence charities.
On September 23, 2003, The Whispers’ four decades of accomplishments were acknowledged when they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. On June 12, 2005, The San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards presented the Whispers with the prestigious Governors Award, the highest honor bestowed by an Academy Chapter. They were also inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2007, The Black Music Academy of America selected the Whispers to receive their “Living Legends” award.
They are one of only a few “old school” groups that can boast of having over 40 years in the industry with a worldwide fan base. The Whispers waited almost a decade to produce a new CD in 2005. This independent product, the first venture of their newly formed corporation Satin Tie Entertainment is a masterpiece entitled, “For Your Ears Only”. According to Walter, “This title was a way of saying to our fans that while we want everyone’s support, we very much want the support of our fans, who have been with us for many, many years.” It made its way up the Billboard chart immediately. In 2007, they release a DVD of their live concert entitled “The Whispers Live From Las Vegas”, the first of its kind. A CD soundtrack of the same concert was also released.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Seven Gold Albums, Two Platinum Albums, 12 Top Twenty Singles, 40 Charted Hits Since 1970, Four Decades of Pop & R & B FavoritesAmerican Music Award Nominees, Soul Train Award Nominees, Grammy Award Nominees
2003 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees, 2005 S.F. Regional Grammy Governors Award
Up On Soul Train
The Whispers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So get on your kicks, and walk
Get on the train
And ride it, wherever it goes
We gonna boogie right down
To every town
Boogie with the train
Soul Train
Come on, and shoot your shot
We gonna have a good time
The big train is mighty hot
There′s no ticket to buy
We'll take you on down the line
Don't need your money
Your body will do just fine
We gonna do it so smooth
On every street
You can join the club
If you can shake your thing
Soul Train
Plenty of funk for you
Come on along and boogie
The big train is coming through
Soul Train
We wanna dance with you
The music is nice and funky
The people are groovy, too
Soul Train
So nice and funky
Makes me feel so good
Soul Train
I don′t need no ticket
I′m just gonna get on board
Soul Train
It's just me and my lady
We gonna boogie on together
Soul Train
Why don′t you come on and party
It's gonna be alright
Soul Train
You don′t need no money
If you can shake your thing
The lyrics to The Whispers's song "Up On Soul Train" celebrate the joy and excitement of the popular television show "Soul Train," which was known for its lively dance performances and soulful music. The song captures the energetic atmosphere of a Soul Train party, inviting listeners to join in and have a good time.
The opening lines set the tone for a festive occasion, urging people to put on their dancing shoes and hop on the Soul Train. It emphasizes the freedom and spontaneity of the experience, suggesting that the train can take them anywhere. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of people boogieing down and traveling from town to town, spreading the joy of dance.
The Soul Train is portrayed as a place where everyone can come together, regardless of their background or financial status. It's a party that doesn't require a ticket or money to participate; all that's needed is the willingness to let loose and have fun. The song highlights the smoothness and stylishness of the dance moves and emphasizes the inclusivity of the Soul Train club, inviting anyone who can "shake their thing" to join.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, it's party time
It's time to have a great time and celebrate
So get on your kicks, and walk
Put on your best shoes and walk confidently
Get on the train
Join in the fun and excitement
And ride it, wherever it goes
Go along for the ride and enjoy the journey
We gonna boogie right down
We're going to dance energetically
To every town
In every place we visit
Boogie with the train
Dance alongside the Soul Train
'Round the world and back
Travel all around the world and return
Soul Train
The train of soulful music and joy
Come on, and shoot your shot
Don't hold back, give it your best try
We gonna have a good time
We're going to enjoy ourselves
The big train is mighty hot
The excitement and energy are contagious
There's no ticket to buy
You don't need to pay or have any reservations
We'll take you on down the line
We'll guide you through the journey of Soul Train
Don't need your money
Financial wealth doesn't matter
Your body will do just fine
Your physical presence and dance skills are enough
We gonna do it so smooth
We'll dance gracefully and effortlessly
On every street
In any location we find ourselves
You can join the club
Anyone can be a part of this dancing community
If you can shake your thing
If you can dance and express yourself
Plenty of funk for you
There's a lot of groovy music for you to enjoy
Come on along and boogie
Join us and dance with enthusiasm
The big train is coming through
The exciting and lively Soul Train is approaching
We wanna dance with you
We want to share the joy of dancing with you
The music is nice and funky
The songs are enjoyable and have a funky vibe
The people are groovy, too
The crowd is cool and full of rhythm
So nice and funky
It feels great and has an infectious groove
Makes me feel so good
It brings about positive emotions and happiness
I don't need no ticket
I don't require any form of payment or validation
I'm just gonna get on board
I will simply join in and participate
It's just me and my lady
It's only my partner and me
We gonna boogie on together
We are going to dance and have fun as a couple
Why don't you come on and party
Why not join us and celebrate
It's gonna be alright
Everything will be fine and enjoyable
You don't need no money
You don't have to worry about finances
If you can shake your thing
As long as you can dance and move with rhythm
Writer(s): Dick Griffey, Terry Brown, Don Cornelius, Hollis Pippin
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@asianfighter62
I MISS SOUL TRAIN AND THE LATE GREAT DON CORNELIUS. AMERICA WAS A BETTER SOCIETY BACK THEN 70's to 80's. RIP LATE GREAT AND GENIUS DON CORNELIUS, YOU HAVE HELPED SO MANY GREAT MUSICIANS AND DANCERS. TRULY A LEGEND
@sunshinerobinson1123
Me too man.
@clayborntheresa9444
This is music 🎶 I love ❤️ it
@AliciaP9999
A true Master and Iconic that is Don Cornelius.
@DearYvette214
This one and O’bryan are the best Soul Train theme songs!!!
@brentduanefoster
Top Three ST INTROS
1. O’Bryan
2. George Duke
3. The Whispers
@wudaddy
Those are the first 2 songs I remember when I was a kid and my mom watched.
@averythecoolcat
And TSOP, too,
@jameshalley8047
The Soul Train Gang versions were pretty good too 😎
@keys1906
MAN, the horns, strings, and bass guitar on this track IS STRAIGHT FIRE!!! GET UP ON THE SOUL TRAIN, PEOPLE!!!!!